June 2018Designed by the Information Services Department

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government

Hong Kong is a prime venue for dispute resolution through arbitration and mediation:

• Mature and well-developed legal system and large pool of experienced professionals

• Hong Kong arbitral awards enforceable in over 150 Contracting States to the New York Convention and this is complemented by reciprocal enforcement arrangements with Mainland China and Macao

• Choice of ad hoc and administered arbitration, and of arbitration institutions

• Intellectual property disputes are arbitrable

• The number of dispute resolution cases handled by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), including both arbitration and mediation, reached 532 in 2017; the total disputed amount for the administered cases was about US$5 billion in 2017

• HKIAC ranked first for location, value for money, helpfulness of staff and IT services by the Global Arbitration Review (GAR) Hearing Centres Surveys 2016, 2017 and 2018

• Since 2015, Hong Kong has been among the top 5 preferred seats for arbitration globally according to the International Arbitration Surveys conducted by Queen Mary University of London

• Mediation is the mechanism used to resolve investment disputes under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)

An international dispute resolution centre

The conversion of the remaining parts of the former Central Government Offices (CGO) is underway to provide a prime location for local, regional and international law-related organisations. Together with offices of the Department of Justice (DoJ) in other parts of the former CGO, the whole area will form a legal hub in the heart of Hong Kong – a poignant and physical reminder of the importance of the legal system to Hong Kong’s success past, present and future.

The first 17 law-related organisations will move into new offices at the West Wing of the former CGO and the former French Mission Building, a declared monument built in 1917. Office space is expected to be available from the first quarter of 2019 at the earliest.

Home to global institutions

What people say

Matthew Gearing QC (Chairman):

Nils Eliasson (Partner, International Arbitration):

Tom Shaw (Partner):

"Hong Kong is a well-established seat for arbitration conveniently located in the heart of Asia, with a sophisticated legal system and an independent pro-arbitration judiciary."

"Nowhere else in Asia than Hong Kong offers such unparalleled access to clients throughout the region in a business environment that is equally approachable for Asian and Western enterprises and where the rule of law, independent judiciary and a tried and trusted common law system are part of the city's DNA."

"Hong Kong’s strong synergies with English law, openness to new business entrants and accessibility to a growing number of high net-worth individuals in Asia make the city an ideal fit for Charles Russell Speechlys."

Established in 1985, HKIAC is one of the world's leading dispute resolution organisations, specialising in arbitration, mediation, adjudication and  domain name disputes resolution.

In Hong Kong since 1978, Shearman & Sterling is a global law firm with over 850 lawyers worldwide.

Leading law firm Charles Russell Speechlys opens new Hong Kong office, entering the market in association with Jonathan Mok Legal to offer expert advice to high net worth clients.

Shearman & Sterling

Charles Russell Speechlys

Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)

for a world-class legal system

• World No.4 in the efficiency of legal framework in settling disputes (World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2017-18)

• Asia’s No.2 and No.15 globally in the Worldwide Governance Indicators project of the World Bank Group }Hong Kong has scored above 90 (out of 100) consistently since 2003 in the aggregate indicator in respect of the rule of law; }Hong Kong’s percentile rank in respect of rule of law has improved from 69.9 in 1996 to 93.3 in 2016

• Asia’s No.1 and No.2 globally in the Human Freedom Index 2017 (Cato Institute) by scoring 8.88 (out of 10), with Integrity of Legal System scored at 8.3

• The Basic Law preserves Hong Kong’s common law system

• Judicial independence is constitutionally protected

• A sound government world-renowned for its efficiency, transparency and zero tolerance for corruption

• Economic freedom and other fundamental rights are constitutionally guaranteed

• Top international rating in many global reports and indexes

Presence of international bodies:

• The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-ICA)

• China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)

• Asia Pacific Regional Office of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)

• Centre of Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Asia Pacific

A Special Administrative Region with a high degree of autonomy under “one country, two systems” as implemented by the Basic Law: • Access to justice under a common law system

• Overseas judges sitting at the apex court with power of final adjudication

• Over 250 multilateral or bilateral agreements entered into by or on behalf of “Hong Kong, China” in fields including economic, trade, financial and monetary, shipping, communications, tourism, cultural and sports

• Both English and Chinese being official languages and all local legislation enacted bilingually with both texts being equally authentic

• International financial centre

• A freely convertible currency

• Low and simple tax regime, no sales or capital gains tax

• A separate customs territory with its own immigration control

• Free trade and free movement of goods, intangible assets and capital

• Respect for and effective protection of property (including intellectual property) rights

Hong Kong’s strong legal infrastructure is served by:

• About 9,500 practising solicitors and over 1,400 practising barristers (including about 100 Senior Counsel)

• About 1,500 registered foreign lawyers from over 30 jurisdictions with over 80 registered foreign law firms

• Industry-led legal bodies include: the Hong Kong Bar Association; the Law Society of Hong Kong; Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre; Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators; Hong Kong Mediation Centre; Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association Limited; Asian Academy of International Law; and Hong Kong Insurance Law Association Limited

• Hearings of investor-state arbitration and disputes between states in Hong Kong facilitated by: }Host Country Agreement between Central People's Government and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA); and }Standing arrangement between the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

Global Legal Hub

World Business Centre

High International Ranking

Large Pool of Experienced Professionals

“One Country, Two Legal Systems”Rule of Law – Cornerstone of a safe city in which a law-abiding society flourishes